2 November 2026 14:45 (UTC)
Spooky outfits, creepy carvings, and a sprinkle of stardust: Behind the scenes in Mexico City
Allow us to take you behind the scenes of the Mexico City Grand Prix and deep into the paddock, with our regular post-race wrap-up. Covering all the action you might have missed, we'll explore everything from the outfits that caught our attention to the strongest snaps and the standout quotes.
With race day falling on Día de los Muertos, the weekend was bound to be a spectacular feast for the eyes and ears as Mexico celebrated a traditional festival dating back millennia. The paddock well and truly got into the spooky spirit of the occasion, with themed decorations, costumes, pumpkin art, and an incredible pre-race performance.
Here are the best bits you might have missed inside the paddock in Mexico City…
On and off the track, it is all about respect between the drivers who do battle each weekend. That was on full show in a truly wholesome moment after Sunday’s race, as Lando congratulated newly crowned World Champion Kimi Antonelli with a hearty hug.
The weekend had a true festival feeling and the team really got into the Mexican spirit with the help of a piñata.
Our team rolled back the years from the parties they'll have attended as kids to give the piñata their best whack, albeit with mixed success - though we made sure the sweets were shared around the paddock.
While it was Día de los Muertos, Saturday saw many parts of the world celebrate Halloween. With full focus on the race, there was no time for dressing up but we still found time to get into the spooky spirit.
This stunning pumpkin carving enshrined our duo into their very own Jack-o’-lantern and was the perfect way to mark the occasion.
The Mexico City Grand Prix has become a firm favourite since its return to the calendar in 2015, thanks in part to the vibrant colours and atmosphere it brings to the entire weekend. That was on full display as the MCL40 raced around the Foro Sol, with pops of papaya fitting in perfectly with the colourful crowd. This snap of Oscar really brings it all to life.
There was always going to be too many stunning outfits to choose from in Mexico City.
Organisers treated us to a brilliant parade, with performers dressed up in traditional outfits that left us feeling truly chilled to the bone before lights out. It was an array of incredible headdresses and eye-catching masks, with plenty of flashes of papaya in there.
Barbara de Regil is one of the biggest actresses in Mexico and we were honoured to give the star of the silver screen a tour around everything papaya.
The actress got up close and personal with the MCL40 as part of a garage tour and grilled our team on everything there is to know about how it all works behind the scenes.
As Barbara was touring the paddock, she might have spotted some Mexican-inspired designs around the place. A few skulls, some marigolds and a couple of brightly coloured bits of artwork certainly made it feel more Mexican.
It was a big weekend for Leo Fornaroli, who earned his chance in the MCL40 during Free Practice 1.
The Italian made his third appearance in Formula 1 practice, gaining vital experience at the top of the sport, and the 21-year-old will have another opportunity in São Paulo next weekend.
“We have 18 points to make up, but I believe that with the pace we showed today and the upgrades coming to Brazil next week, we have every chance of achieving at least that target."
Results in Mexico City mean we have slipped behind Red Bull in the Constructors’ standings, but it is still all to play for as the season nears its end. We are just 17 points behind Red Bull and Team Principal Andrea Stella is confident the pace shown this weekend will reap the points it deserves at Interlagos.
There is no rest for the team as we head straight to São Paulo for next week’s Brazilian Grand Prix, rounding off the latest triple-header.
The Interlagos circuit, formally known as the Autódromo José Carlos Pace, is one of the cathedrals of Formula 1 and has provided some memorable moments for us down the years.
We are the most successful constructor in the race’s history with 13 victories, including Lando’s brilliant win last year.
